The crew of Sea Shepherd Conservation Society and Ocean Alliance’s Gulf of Mexico research campaign, Operation Toxic Gulf, will be docked at Palafox Pier in Pensacola, Fla. starting today through June 23, 2014. Ocean Alliance’s research vessel RV Odyssey — home for the duration of the campaign — will be open to the public for ship tours this weekend on June 21 and 22 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The crew will also be available to speak to visitors and media about the critical work being done on this campaign to document the long-term effects of the BP oil spill and toxic oil dispersants on sperm whales and other Gulf wildlife.

The stay in port from June 19 until June 23 will also be an opportunity to restock the Odyssey with supplies needed by the crew to continue their work in the Gulf. Any donations of vegan food, fresh produce and other provisions would be greatly appreciated by the crew. Sea Shepherd has a wish list on Amazon.com that includes items needed for this campaign.

“Sea Shepherd and Ocean Alliance are so thankful to the many people making this important campaign possible. Our fantastic supporters continue to send much-needed supplies to the RV Odyssey, and the crew is encouraged by this amazing support,” said Sea Shepherd USA Administrative Director, Susan Hartland.

Hartland added: “The crew aboard the Odyssey is looking forward to meeting supporters in Pensacola and some of the people who live in and deeply care about this region that both Ocean Alliance and Sea Shepherd are working to protect. We hope that many people will come out to tour the vessel and learn more about our campaign.”

Sea Shepherd and Ocean Alliance have proudly joined forces for Operation Toxic Gulf, a collaborative campaign meant to expose the long-term impacts of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill and chemical oil dispersants on the Gulf of Mexico wildlife and ecosystem. Campaign research will focus mainly on sperm whales; as apex predators, these whales are excellent bio-indicators of the health and balance of the entire Gulf food chain. The RV Odyssey, a 93-foot, steel-hulled ketch, equipped with a state-of-the-art, cell-culture laboratory, is especially well suited for studying whales and other marine life. Operation Toxic Gulf will run from June through August.